Reversing coiler drive



Feb. 17, 1959 H. H. LECKLER 2,

REVERSING COILER DRIVE Filed March 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY E/CHEK WATTS, EDGEET NA? MNENNY HTTOENEf-S Feb. 17, 1959 H. H.LECKLER 2,373,435

REVERSING COILER DRIVE Filed March 19, 1952 4 Sh eets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORN EICHEKWATTS EDGEET NZJW A/ENNY w 45 424W H Twelve- 6 1959 H. H.LEckLER REVERSING comm DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1952 a7F/c 7 INVENTOR. H9122 H. LECKLE/E BY E/CHEK WA 771?, EDGEE N8 MNENNY A T7-0 e/vEys 1959 H. H. LECKLER REVERSING COILER DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed March 19, 1952 REVERSING COILER'DRIVE Harry 'Leckler, Lakewood,Ohio, assignor to The layers if textile fiber strands in containers of.the type Warner-& 'Swasey C0., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio-Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,520 ll Claims. ((31. 19-159This invention relates to the packaging of textile fibers and, moreparticularly, to a method of and apparatus for supporting and driving asliver container while the container is being filled from a pin-drafteror the like.

, An ohjectof the invention is to form'uniform of fiber. in a containerfor-fiber strands.

An object, of the invention is to form inte l'ocke'd layers :in whichthe strands are disposed in coils about a center post. A

Another object of the invention is to prevent twisting and the like.whena pluralityof strands of textile fiber are packaged in a singlecontainer. t A further object of the invention is to provide means forcoiling aplurality of strands of textile fiber in a single container.

A still further object of the invention is to package a plurality ofstrands of textile fiber in a. single container,

,iso that .the.strandsmay be removed simultaneously without twisting.

In processingtextile fibers, .it is common to package ,thestrandedfibers, .e. -g. the slivers, at the pin drafter for transportingtheslivers to the machines or mills which I .performthe succeedingoperations. v packaging thesliver involves the use of a so-called sliverOne method of container which is provided-With a central post aboutwhich the silver is disposed in suitable fashion as, e. g. in coilsdisposed about the post and between the post andthe wall of thecontainer. The method is Well scribes a coiler head suitable Iforfeedingsliv'er strands from a fiber processing apparatus such as' apin-drafter into the sliver container.

In drafting synthetic fibers, it is common .tojproc'ess two; or moreslivers simultaneously'becauseofth'e' relatively small diameter of thesynthetic liberal However,

.it has been found that when two or more slivers are packaged: in asliver container by means ,ofthe coiler head referred to above, theslivers, cannot be removed from the container without objectionable"twisting of the two slivers, one about the other. "The presentinvehtionis concerned with amethod of and apparatusforf packaging two slivers ina sliver container so that such twisting is obviated.

V In accordance with theinvention, the sliver containiars are mountedupon .turntables similar to those of thepatent referred to. above, butwhich are driven so that the sliver containers do.not undergo a completerevolution. The turntables are turned through a predetermined an: aridare thenreversed and driven in the opposite direction, while formingcoils of sliver between the center post andthe wall. of the container.Each time the directiohof rotation is reversed, however, the positionof"the'turntable is advanced somewhat from the position {of the previousreversal so that the initiation and termination of. the successivelayers is advancedwith respect to the preceding layer. The apparatus: ofthe invention includesl suitable turntables for supporting the sliverconx .tainer s; .driveapparatusafor generating the necessary re-.versing. motion; and an, indexing clutch mechanism I .-Fig. 6 is a'side elevation view of the drive 1 2 whereby the position of theturntable upon charige in directionof drive is shifted .for. successivereversals in lthetsarne direction. H

These andother objects, features and advantages of "the invention willbe apparent from a, consideration of (the renewin.detailedsp'ecification and claims taken in orifiection with theappended drawings, in which:

Fig.;1 is aside view of a pin-drafter and an -associated slivercontainer -and-coiler head with which the ,ptesent invention isadaptedto be utilized; 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the turntables and drive apparatus of theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. of the drive apparatus takenalongthe lines 3-3 .of Fig. -2;

f Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view sirnilar to Fig. 3

and showing anyalternateposition of the. mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a View of a portion hi the reversing drive cam mechanism,showing the rnanner of engagement of a cam with the half-nut member;

apparatus taken .along thelines 6-6 in Fig. 3; h

Fig. 7 .is a. vertical sectionalviewtalren along-the lines -7-7. of Fig.2 and showing the turntable and the support and driveapparatus therefor;7

,Figs. 8,9; 10 and 11 are .toprviews of the turntable.clutchmechanismshowing the relative disposition of the .components forseveralfpositions of .theturntable; and

Figs; 12, 16 and .14 ,are schematic representations of the manner ofdisposition of sliverin the container .for the successive positions ofthe turntable.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown apin-drafter apparatus .10 for.textile fibers, the apparatus including a frame-1'1 and drafting rolls12 and 13. .A sliver cont-t ainer 14 is supported and rotatedbyacpntainer turning apparatus 15 while sliver is .fed into the containerby a .coilerhead 16. The turning apparatus 15 is driven in synchronismwith the drafting rolls and the coiler head by means of .chain 17 or thelike. The coiler head 16 .and the sliver container 14 may be of thegeneral type disclosed in S; "Patent No. 2,630,243 issued -March 3, 1953, to James R. Longstreet. 3

The turning apparatus 15 comprises a base 18 supporting two similarturntables1-9 and20 and including a housing lui for components of thereversing driveapparatus for the, turntables. .As shown particularly inFigs". 2, .dand (7, the motions generated by the reversing driveapparatus .aretransmitted to the turntables by a chain 22nconnected toarecip'rocating member 23 of the reversing drive apparatus and passingover idler wheels 24 and 25, a sprocket wheel 26 associated with theturntable 19 and a similar sprocket wheel associated with turntable 20.Motion of each sprocket wheelis cemmunicated to the turntables 19 and 20by meansof clutch "mechanisms, such as the mechanism 27 associated withturntable 19, ina manner to bejsubsequently described. As' shown inparticular in Figs. 2 and 7, the turntables 19and20 eachcomprise a flatplate-like member 28 hav- 32 formedin the base 1.8 for supportingthetnrntable 28. The groove 32 is, of course, appropriately formed toprovidea smooth bearing surface for the annular projection 31; U Themember 28 is held at the center hyan annular member 33 which is securedto the member by a cap screw 34and apin .35. Theannularmember33ispivoted on apin36 which isreceivedfin a suitable opening 37 inthe base 18 and forms ,a shaft .on which the turntable turns. Thesprocket 26 is .keyed to a coaxial member 38 by means or the piece 39 totransmit the movemeritgof the sprocket 26 to the memberf38; The entireclutch tions.

assembly and turntable therefor rotate about shaft pin 36 which has ahead 40 which serves as a vertical constraint for the entire unit.

Proceeding now to the reversing drive apparatus, shown in Figs. 3, 4,and 6, the reversing drive mechanism serves to transform the rotarymotion of the wheel 41 which is driven by the chain 17, shown in Fig. 1,'into reciprocating motion of the member 23. The drive apparatuscomprises two shafts 42 and 43, the' shaft 42 carrying the sprocket 41and a gear 44 which engages a similar gear 45 mounted on the shaft 43 sothat the shafts are driven at equal speeds in opposite directions. Eachshaft carries a screw thread along the length thereof, the pitch ofthethreads being such that the opposite rotations of the two shaftsproduce axial forces in opposite direc- The screw threads are engaged bya half-nut member 46 which is mounted upon and slides along a shaft 47disposed parallel to the shafts 42 and 43. The half-nut is suitablyformed with arcuate thread-like projections 48 and 49 at either sidethereof forengagement with the screw threads on the shafts 42 and 43. Asshown in Fig. 6, the half-nut 46 is disposed with the projections 49engaged in the screw threads 50 of shaft 43 while the projections 48 ofthe half-nut are visible. The engagement of the projections of thehalf-nut with the screw threads of either rotating shaft thus causes atranslation of the halfnut 46 and the member 23 along the shaft 47.

Each shaft is provided with means for shifting the engagement of thehalf-nut from one shaft to another upon arrival of the half-nut at theend of the shaft. A cam member 51 is mounted at the far end of the shaft42, as viewed in Fig. 3, looking from the end of the housing 21 nearthesprocket 41, while a similar cam member 52 is mounted at the near andof shaft 43. Upon arrival of the half-nut 46 at the far end of the shaft42, the cam member 51 engages and forces the half-nut to the right sothat the projections 49 engage the screw threads 50 of the shaft 43.,The half-nut 46 and the sliding member 23 thus travel toward the frontend of the shaft until the cam 52 engages and forces the half-nut'memberto the left so that the projections 48 engage the screw threads 53 ofshaft 42, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The projections of thehalf-nutmember are maintained in engagement with the screw threads ofthe shafts by a guide member '54 which rides along either side of apiece 55 depending from the base 18 as the half-nut travels from one endof the shaft to the other. The pieces 54 and 55 are of such length anddisposition that the piece 5'4 clears the piece 55 at the ends of theshaft. There is thus produced an alternate motion of the half-nut member46 along the shafts 42 and 43 which is imparted to the chain 22 as areciprocating motion by the sliding member 23.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, the reciprocating mo-- tion of the chain22 is imparted to the sprocket 26 as an oscillating rotation thereof.This oscillating rotation of the sprocket 26 is imparted to theturntable 19 by means of the clutch 27 comprising the annular members 33and 38, heretofore referred to. As shown in Fig. 8, the annular member33 ha the upper portion thereof 'formed with openings 60 around theperiphery thereof, thus forming a ratchet wheel designated by thenumeral 61. Opposing ratchet elements or pawls 62 and 63 are pivotallymounted upon the outer annular piece or pawl wheel 38 by means such aspins 64 and 65. The ratchet elements are formed with projections 66 and67 adapted to engage the openings 60 and are constrained to move intothose openings by springs 68 and 69, respectively. Ratchet elements 62and 63 have the projecting portions thereof formed so as to engage theopenings 60 of the ratchet wheel 61 in opposition each to the other.Thus, if the element 62 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel, theelement 63 may drive the ratchet wheel 61 only in a counterclockwisedirection. 63' is disengaged, the element 62 may drive the ratchet'wheel only in a clockwise direction.

Similarly, when the ratchet element In accordance with the invention,means are provided for disengaging the ratchet element 63 from theratchet wheel at the end of each complete rotational oscillation of thesprocket wheel 26. The ratchet element 63 is pro vided with a pin 70which is adapted to engage a fixed member 71 which is mounted upon theframe 18 and is provided with a cam-like surface 72 for engagement bythe pin 70. Thus, as the element 63 is rotatedto a point adjacent theleading edge 73 of the surface 72, the pin 70 moves along the surface 72thus disengaging the projection 67 from the opening 60 in which it isengaged.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, with the member 38 in the position ofFig. 8, the member 23 is in the leftmost position as shown in Fig. 2 andthe ratchet wheel 61 and the turntable 19 are in a positioncorresponding to the letter A in Fig. 13. In this position, the pawl 62drives the ratchet wheel 61 clockwise until the pin 7 0 engages theouter surface of the member 71 to disengage the projection 67 from theratchet wheel 61, as shown in Fig. 9, this position of the member 38corresponding to the position B shown in Fig. 13. The extent ofrotationbeyond the point of initial engagement of the pin 70 with theouter surface 72 of the member 71 is determined by the number ofopenings 60 spaced circumferentially around the ratchet wheel 61. In theembodiment shown, twelve openings are equidisposed about thecircumference of the ratchet wheel, so that each advance is through anangle of 30. The action of the ratchet element 63 and fixed element 71may be denominated as an indexing action for convenience of descriptionand reference.

As the annular clutch member 38 reaches the maximum extent of travel andstarts to move in the opposite direction, the annular member 38 reversesits direction of travel thus disengaging ratchet element 62 from" theopening 60 in which it was engaged, as shown in Fig--10. As rotation ofthe annular member 38 continues-in tlie reverse direction, the motionofpin 70 along the "surface 72 of fixed member 71 allows theratchet'element 63 to move inward under the influence of the spring 69until, as is shown in Fig. 11, the projection 67 engages an opening inthe ratchet wheel 61 which is spaced 30 from the opening in which theprojection 67 had previously engaged. The projection 66 ofratchetelement-62 similarly engages an opening 60 diametricallyopposed'to that of the opening engaged by projection'67 so that theopposing ratchet elements may transmit rotational forces from member 38to ratchet wheel 61 in either direction of rotation. This processcontinues for alternate reversals of the direction of rotation of theannular clutch member 38, i. e., for the reversals at the end of thetravel associated with the engagement of the pin 70 with fixed member71. As a result, there is imparted to the ratchet element 61 and henceto the turntable 19 and the sliver container supported thereby, anadvance in the position of the turntable with respect to the base 18and, hence to the coiler head 16 with which the turntable is associated,of 30 for eachcomplete oscillation of the turntable. This amount ofangular shift is, of course, arbitrary and may vary widely within thespirit of the invention. I

The fixed shift in angular relationship between the sliver container andthe coiler head causes a successive shift in the are along which thecoils or helices are placed by the coiler head 16. The nature of thisshift will be more clearly understood from a consideration of Figs. 121'3and 14'wherein the wall of the sliver container is represented inplan view at 75 and the central post of the containerat 76. The circularpath, along which the-sliver strand would be fed by the coiler head ifthe sliver'container were not rotated, is shown by the coaxial circles77. The rotation of the container about the axis determined by the shaftpin 36 causes a shifting of this path of feed from the initial startingline, designated asthe radial line A in Fig. 13 to produce a layer ofsuccessive overlapping coils of strands'in the formof skewed'helicescontainer.

disposed circumferentially about the central post 76, As the rotation'of the'container continues', the layefis 'fdrined continuously about thecentral post 76 until" a pointg'designated by the radial line B in Fig.13 is reached. The

"layer is thus formed by motion of the turnt'abl'e through an are havingthe extremities shownby the lines A and B and represents the limits ofrotational oscillation of the turntable as deterrninedby themotion ofthe clutch 27. This rotation'may be through any arbitrary the ratchetelement 63 fromthe ratchetwheel 61 and allowing the ratchet element -62to drive the turntable and sliver container beyond the line A to a pointrepresented by the radial line C in Fig. .14. At this point, thelcircularpath of feed of the coiler drive extends 30 beyond the limits ofthe coiled lineshown at line A." Upon reversal of rotation, the slivercontainer and turntable' are driven back along the path previouslytraversed :Lllltll, by reason of the advanced position of the ratchetelement 63, the container reaches a position denoted bytthe 'line D Thisprocess continues, .the arc throughwhich each layer of strands isdisposed 'being shifted relativetothe container by an angle of 30foreachoscillation of .the container, sothat the layers are continuallysuperimposed :each upon the other in a stepwise fashion.

It will be seen that in accordance with this"rnethod, ;a verycompact-and self-sustaining method of packag'ingvis achieved in thatthere will beno tendency .tcwardfseparation 'of the coil strands or ofthe respective layers;

Further, it will beseen that no difiiculty will be encountered in theremoval of thetwo strands from the sliver This is so since the.alternate .directionsiof rotation of the sliver container causes acancellationof the twist imparted to the respective strands, i. e. ,;imparts a false twist to the strands which facilitates theremoval of theseparate strands without the entanglement thereof.

Theinventionhas been primarily described with refportlfor theturntablecomprising shaft means defining an ererrce to a particular typeof :container andgenerallysin terms of "thcpackaging of a plurality ofstrandsiina :sing-le container. dbESiHOt thereby intend thattheinventionshould,beconstruedin such limited fashion but rather thatitwbecon- 'strued broadly in respect toall essential components of It is tobe understood, howeve'nthatapplicant the invention.

What is claimed is: r t Y 1 1. Apparatus .for turning a slivercontainerlcolnprising a'support member, a turntablemounted for rotationon .said support member, reversing drive means for-said turntableincluding a sprocket associated with the turntable, two reverse-runningscrews adapted to be "driven from a source of power, a half-nutengageable'gwitheither screw for reciprocation in alternate directions,and a drive chain passing over the turntable sprocket andiconnected tothe half-nut for turning the sprocketin alternate directions inaccordance with the reciprocation of the halfnut and clutch meansconnected between saidsprocket and said turntable comprising a ratchetwheel andrat chet means engageable with the wheel and'operabletoedvancethe movernentof the turntable relative to the support member.

2. Sliver coiling apparatus including a turntable; a

'support for the turntable comprising shaft means definmounted forreciprocation-along the lengths oftlieshafts, means for changing theengagement o'fthe ha'jlf-nutfrom one shaft to the other-at the end ofthe travel of the htilf-ntlt, a 7 SpT-Odket wheelmounted "=c0aXiallYwith 'tthe shaft me'an's, and a c'ha in connected to: said half nu't andpassing over the sprocket wheel to translate reciprocating motion of thehalf-nut into oscillating rotatory motion of' the sprocket, and clutchmeans coupling said sprocket and said turntable comprising a ratchetwheel,

-said"wheel including a succession of radially directed openings aroundthe periphery thereofytwo opposing 10 pawIs-engageable inthe openings of'said wheelpand rneans for' disengaging one 'of saidpawls from theopenrings during a 'portion of the travel of the wheeluand means fordisengaging one of said pawls for a portion lof' therotational travel ofthe' tu'rntable. r

3. .Sliver' coiling apparatus including a turnta'ble,-a 'has'erfor theturntable ihavingan r annular portion enga ed .with 'thetunder-side ofsaid turntable, a shaft for the tum- ,table-yzreversing dr ive apparatuscomprising two shafts carryingtoppositelydirected screw threads,- ahalf-nut en- -.gageable with eithershaft and mounted for recipro'ation*alongvthe lengths of the shafts, means for shifting the engagementlofthe half-nut from-oneshaf t to the other a'tathewend of the travel ofthe half-nut, a sprocket wheel mounted coaxially with the turntableshaft, and a chain connectedsto said half-nutand passing over thesprocket ,turningwthe sprocket wheel in accordance with thereciprocating .rnotion of the half-nut, and'clutch means coupling saidsprocket wheel and said'turntable'comprising aratchet wheel securedtosaid turntable, said ratchet wheelyincluding assuccession of radiallydirected openings around the periphery'thereof, an annularrnernber'rnounted coaxi-allyrwith the turntable and for rotation withrespect thereto; tsaid annular'member being connected to said sprocketwheel two. opposing elements mounted "on said annular member and:engageable -withopenin gsof the ratchet wheel, 'each 'element servingto turn the ratchet wheel wintone direction, and means for disengagingone of thewelements from "the openings during the extreme :portion ;ofthe drive of. the remaining element.

-4.Sliver;coiling apparatus includingaturntable, a supaxis of; rotation,reversing drive apparatus comprising two shafts carrying oppositelydirected screw threads,"a half-nut engageable with either shaftand'rno'untedfor reciprocation along the len'gths of the shafts, meansfor changing the engagement of-the half-nut'frorn onefshaft .tothe otherat the end of the travel of the half-nut, a

sprocket wheel mounted coaxially'with the shaft means, tandachainconnected to said half-nut'and passing over the sprocket wheelto'translate reciprocating motionof the half-nut .into oscillatingrotatory motion of the sprocket, and clutch means comprising a ratchetwheel secured-to said turntable, said ratchet wheel including asuccessionof radially directed openings aroundtheperiphery thereof, anannular member mounted coaxially with-the turntable and for rotationwith respect thereto, two-oppositely directed pawls mounted on saidannular member and engageablewith the openings in said ratchet --wheel,.and means for disengaging one of saidpawls'trom theopenings during aportion of the travel of the wheel comprising a cam element for movingthe pawl radially r while permitting rotational motion of the annularmember.

"5. Sliver assembling apparatus comprising, in'combi'riation, aturntable 'for holding a sliver container, a base and a'ashaft forturning the turntable about anaxisthrough :thecenter post of thecontainer, an-indexing' clutcharrangement including a ratchet wheelconnected :to the .turntable a pawl wheel having two opposed pawlsengaged with the ratchet wheel and a fixed dog for disengaging one ofthepawls near theend of movement in one direction whenthe pawl wheel isturned in alternate directions, means for turning the pawl wheel inalternate' directions, and a coiler head having an ofiset rotary'feedrnechanisrnfor forming sliver in coils disposedbe- "tween thecenter postand wall of the container, whereby apluralityof slivers maycoils with successive layers advanced eachv with respect U to thepreceding layer.

be laid in layers of successive turntable, a pawl wheel having twoopposed pawls engagedwith the ratchet wheel and a fixed, dog fordisengaging one of the pawls near the end of movement in one directionwhen the pawl wheel is turned in alternate directions, means forturningthe pawl wheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocket on the pawlwheel and a drive chain in engagement with the sprocket, an idler wheeland a drive mechanism including a unidirectional turning drive memberand an oscillating member connected to the drive chain, and a coilerhead having an offset rotary mechanism for forming sliverincoilsdisposed between the center post and wall of the container, whereby aplurality of slivers may be laid in layers of successive coils withsuccessive layers advanced each with respect to the preceding layer.

7. Sliver packaging apparatus comprising a base having an arcuate recessabout the periphery thereof, a turntable for supporting a slivercontainer having an annular projection received in the recess, a shaftsupported on the base and a ratchet wheel journalled on the shaft andpinned to the turntable and having a projecting lower hub member, a pawlwheel journalled on the hub of the ratchet wheel and two opposed pawlson the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel, a pin on an outerextremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted on the base and adaptedto be engaged by the pin for ;d1sengag1ng the pawl'from the. ratchetwheel when the pawl wheel is turned to an extreme position to advancewith respect to the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel starts in theopposite direction, and means for turning the pawl wheel in alternatedirections whereby a sliver con tainer is turned in alternate directionsabout the center thereof with the change'from one direction to thealternate direction occurring at successively displaced positions withrespect to the base and at alternate changes of direction of theturntable.

8. S l1ver packaging apparatus comprising a base havting an arcuaterecess about the periphery thereof, a turn- ,table for supporting asliver container having an annular projection received in the recess, ashaft supported on the base, a ratchet Wheel journalled on the shaft andpinned to the turntable and having a projecting lower hub .rnernber, apawl wheel journalled on the hub of the ,ratchet wheel and two opposedpawls on the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel, and a pin on anouter extremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted on the base andadapted to be engaged by the pin for disengagng the pawl from theratchet wheel when the pawl wheel s turned to an extreme position toadvance the pawl wheel with respect to the ratchet wheel when the pawlnwhcel starts in the opposite direction, and means for turning the pawlwheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocketflon the pawl wheel,an idler wheel and a drive chain around the idler wheel and thesprocket, and a reversing drive means having a drive wheel adapted to bedriven uniformly in one direction, a pair of oppositely rotatingthreaded shafts driven by said drive wheel,

a reciprocating member connected to the drive chain and means to engageportions of said reciprocating member alternately with said shafts andthereby reverse the dircction of motion of said reciprocating member.

- Sliver packaging apparatus comprising a base having an open centerportion and an arcuate recess about the periphery thereof, a turntablefor supporting a sliver fcontainer having an annular projection receivedin the recess, a shaftsuppoited on the base in the open center 7 portionand a ratchet wheel journalled on the shaft and pinned to the turntableandhaving a projecting lower hub member extending between the turntableand the base, a pawl wheel journalled on the hub of the ratchet wheeland two opposed pawls on the pawl wheel engaged with the ratchet wheel,and a pin on an outer extremity of one of the pawls and a dog mounted onthe base and adapted to be engaged by the pin for disengaging the pawlfrom the ratchet wheel when the pawl wheel is turned to an extremeposition to advance the pawl wheel with respect to the ratchet wheelwhen the pawl wheel starts in the opposite direction, and means forturning the pawl wheel in alternate directions comprising a sprocket onthe pawl wheel, an idler wheel and a drive chain around the idler wheeland the sprocket, and'a reversing drive means comprising two threadedshafts, a sliding half-nut connected to the drive chain, and means forshifting the half-nut from one shaft to another at the ends of theshafts. I

10. A sliver coiling apparatus including a turntable, a base for theturntable, a shaft for the turntable fixed to the base, an annular drivemember on the shaft, indexing clutch means connected between the drivemember and the turntable comprising a ratchet wheel on the shaft fixedto the turntable, a plurality of pawls on the drive member andengagingthe wheel, at least one of the pawls being directed in one direction andat least one in the opposite direction, and means for disengaging thepawls directed in the one direction during at least a portion of thedrive by the pawls directed in the opposite direction, reversing driveapparatus comprising two shafts carrying oppositely directed screwthreads and a half-nut member mounted for reciprocation adjacent to saidshafts, means for engaging said half-nut member alternately with saidshaft threads and a drive chain connected to said half-nut member and tosaid annular drive member for turning the drive member in alternatedirections in accordance with the reciprocatingrnotion of the half-nutmember.

11. Apparatus for turning a sliver container, comprising a turntable, asupport for said turntable, said turntable being mounted upon thesupport for rotation with respect thereto, drive means for oscillatingthe turntable in opposite directions of rotation, a driving connectionbetween said drive means and said turntable comprising a clutch havingmeans for shifting the limits of oscillation circumferentially, saiddrive means including a sprocket connected to the clutch means, a chainmeshing the sprocket, a reciprocating member secured to said chain, apair of shafts adapted to be rotated by a source of motive power,oppositely directed screw threads on said shafts, said reciprocatingmember being adapted to engage the threads on either shaft forreciprocation along the length thereof, and means for shifting themember from engagement with the threads of one shaft to engagement withthe threads on the other shaft, whereby the reciprocation of the saidmember turns the turntable in successive overlapping arcs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

